Fresh trouble seem to be brewing for Chinese apps in India, according to reports that indicate more Chinese apps may be banned soon.?
Last month we saw a staggering move by the Indian government, banning 59 Chinese apps including rainmakers like TikTok. And now, a report by ET highlights that several more Chinese apps are in the government¡¯s crosshairs, including PUBG Mobile game.?
The report reveals that Indian government authorities have a list of 275 Chinese apps that are going to be under extreme scrutiny for any violation of national security or user privacy. This list also consists of apps from leading developers, one of them being the beloved PUBG that¡¯s powered by Tencent Gaming and has over 175 million downloads from India alone.?
Other apps on the list include Zili developed by smartphone maker Xiaomi, AliExpress -- the e-commerce app from Chinese tech mogul Alibaba, as well as recently unveiled music streaming apps Resso and ULike from the makers of TikTok --Bytedance.?
As many as 14 apps by Xiaomi are a part of the list. Moreover, apps from Chinese brands like Meitu, LBE Tech, Perfect Corp, Sina Corp, Yazoo Global, Netease games are also on this list. Also under scrutiny is Helinksi-based Supercell that is backed by Tencent.
ET in a conversation with people aware of the developments has revealed that the government may choose to ban all, some or none of the apps on the list.?
The report citing official sources says these reviews are essentially in place to keep a track of Chinese apps and their funding. Some apps have been highlighted due to security concerns whereas some have been highlighted due to data sharing and privacy concerns.?
It is no news that India has some of the largest user-bases of Chinese apps with over 300 million unique users. In fact, nearly two-thirds of smartphone users in the nation have downloaded a Chinese app.?
An official from MeitY has revealed that the Indian government will follow a proper process before undertaking any ban which involves a committee to make such decisions. The committee includes representatives from ministries of home affairs, electronics and IT, information and broadcasting and law and justice as well as officials from CERT-In.